Governor Dayton Concerned Over Vikings Owners’ Legal Case In New Jersey

With the Minnesota Vikings stadium getting ready to be built, a New Jersey legal case involving the Wilf family is of great concern to Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton.

StarTribune.com is reporting that  Gov. Mark Dayton said he is "deeply concerned" by a New Jersey judge's statements in a case involving Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf and his family, and urged the stadium authority to use caution in negotiating a final contract with the Wilfs to build the team a new $1 billion stadium.

"I am deeply concerned by the judge's findings that the Wilf family committed fraud, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty; violated New Jersey's civil racketeering statute; and presented untruthful and inaccurate financial statements," the governor said in a statement. "Those practices are far from the legal standards for doing business in Minnesota."

New Jersey Superior Court Judge Deanne Wilson made those findings in a long-running civil case involving an apartment complex in Montville, N.J., in which the Wilfs were partners. She said Zygi Wilf exhibited "bad faith and evil motive" in the deal.

"The Court's findings pertain to a case that is unrelated to the agreement negotiated last year with the Wilfs and the Vikings," Dayton's statement continued. "However, since the Stadium Authority has not yet signed the final agreement, I would urge the Board to have its legal counsel assure them and the people of Minnesota that all of the representations made by the team and its owners are truthful and accurate."

The Board has spoken with the NFL and they still support the Vikings new stadium verbally and will continue to do so financially.